During February 2021's Winter Storm Uri, natural gas production in Texas dropped nearly 45%. The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) and the North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC) found that freezing conditions caused 44.2% of unplanned generating unit outages, with natural gas facilities accounting for 58% of
In October 2019, a pumper at the Aghorn Operating waterflood station in Odessa, Texas was fatally injured by hydrogen sulfide (H2S) exposure while responding to a pump malfunction. The U.S. Chemical Safety Board (CSB) investigation found that the facility's H2S detection and alarm system was nonfunctional at
Every permit-required confined space entry under 29 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) 1910.146 requires three distinct roles: an authorized entrant, an attendant, and an entry supervisor. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) mandates these roles for a reason. According to the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
Electrical workers on oil and gas sites operating near energized equipment face two simultaneous compliance requirements: National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 70E requires arc-rated Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for energized electrical work, and OSHA requires fall protection on elevated surfaces. Until recently, no single Self-Retracting Lifeline (SRL) satisfied both. FallTech&
In 2025, OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) proposed $1,125,484 in penalties against Taylor Farms New Jersey Inc. after a worker was killed when processing equipment unexpectedly energized during maintenance. The investigation found 16 violations — the majority tied to systemic failures in Lockout/Tagout (LOTO) procedures and inadequate
On March 26, 2026, OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) cited two Cartersville, Georgia stone manufacturers following repeat inspections. Stone Atlanta Countertops Inc. faces $42,699 in proposed penalties and GT Stone Granite LLC faces $73,607 — combined, over $116,000 for violations that include no written exposure control plan,
Control of Hazardous Energy — commonly known as Lockout/Tagout (LOTO) — ranked fifth on OSHA's (Occupational Safety and Health Administration's) most-cited violations list in 2024, with 2,443 citations issued across all industries. In the oil and gas sector, LOTO enforcement is more complicated than in most
The Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) regulates mines. Oil and gas falls under the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). That distinction holds until your crew is working on or adjacent to a mineral extraction site, at which point MSHA jurisdiction applies and inspectors have full authority under Title
NFPA 70E training teaches electrical safety principles. But drilling rigs present specific electrical hazards that generic industrial training doesn't address. The gap between classroom knowledge and rig floor application is where incidents happen. Standard NFPA 70E training covers the fundamentals. What it doesn't always emphasize are
Back pain on a drilling rig isn't inevitable. It's preventable. But it happens because proper musculoskeletal disorder (MSD) prevention isn't standard practice on most rig floors, even though it should be. MSDs—injuries to muscles, tendons, ligaments, and nerves from overuse or strain—are
A ladder looks simple. It's just aluminum and some rungs. But on a drilling site, improper ladder setup is one of the most common sources of serious injuries. A-frame ladder failures result in injuries quickly. Someone opens the ladder but doesn't lock the spreader bar all
In July 2025, OSHA updated its penalty structure specifically to ease the burden on smaller employers. What Actually Changed The U.S. Department of Labor updated its guidance on penalty and debt collection procedures to minimize the burden on small businesses and increase prompt hazard abatement. The specifics matter for